Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy very much. I appreciate her personal interest in this. I am a rural Deputy. I very much understand the importance of the school transport scheme. I will be clear that, as I have said, the geographical criteria currently require a student to live within 3.2 km of their nearest national school and to attend that school. At post-primary level, students must live within 4.8 km of their nearest school and attend that school or the next nearest. That was a concession that we gave. However, I appreciate the point the Deputy is making. The objective is for the maximum number of young people to avail of the school transport scheme where possible. I assure the Deputy that the geographical issue is very much part of the review base.

I also acknowledge that the scheme is important insofar as almost 150,000 young people currently avail of it. We have seen a considerable increase in the number availing of the scheme even in the last year. There was a 21% increase in the number of eligible students availing of it and a 38% increase in the number of concessionary places. We are also transporting 5,200 Ukrainian students. As a result of its importance, we have reduced the payment required to €50 for a primary school student, €75 for a post-primary student and €125 for a family ticket.

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